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INSULEUR VOICE THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ISLAND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Issue 6 www.insuleur.net September 2009 President visits INSULEUR headquarters and Greek Government Chios & Athens - July 2009 INSULEUR President Mr. Juan Gual de Torrella , also Mallorca Chamber of Commerce President, since last May, visited the headquarters from our Network in the Greek island of Chios in July 2009. During his trip to Greece, Mr. Gual de Torrella also gathered in Athens with the main authorities responsible for insularity, that is, the Greek Vice-Minister responsible for Insular Development, Mr. Panos Kammenos , and the Representative from the General Secretary from the Ministry of Economy . Both of them met Mr. Gual de Torrella and his cabinet, and they were very interested on the new INSULEUR Strategic Plan for the next 3 years. Furthermore, in Chios, at INSULEUR Headquartes, Mr. Gual de Torrella attended also to the EOAEN Administration Council (Network of Insular Greek Chambers), meeting as well the EOAEN President, Mr. Themistodis Papatheofanous , and with INSULEUR´s treasurer, Mr. Yiorgos Benetos . President Gual de Torrella have proposed to work in two lines , being the first one to continue with the action of lobbying before the local, national and European institutions developed to date and in second place, developing projects of cooperation in network through European Programs, in tourism, transportation, energy and management of the environment, like options of business development. In this sense, the network is trying to give a greater visibility to its work addressed to the media and to the society in general, to continue with the deepening of the know-how on development of the insular SMEs and of the economy of the insular regions in general. Picture (among others): Elias Michalakis (first INSULEUR and Honorary President), Juan Gual (President), Yiorgios Benetos (Treasurer) & Stylianos Giakoumogiannakis (Vicepresident) 1st International Forum on the Nautical Sector in Castelsardo (Sardinia) Organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Sassari The Chamber of Commerce of Sassari , in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Foreign Trade and the local government, organized the First International Forum on the Nautical Sector in Castelsardo (Sardinia) . During the celebration of this Forum, INSULEUR President Mr. Gual de Torrella met with the representatives of the Italian Cameras of Cagliari, Oristano and Sassari. In this working meeting were present the Sassari Chamber of Commerce President Mr. Gavino Sini , the Oristano Chamber of Commerce President Mr. Pietrino Sacanu and its Secretary General Mr. Enrico Massidda , and finally the Cagliari Chamber of Commerce Secretary General Mr. Carlo Desogus . II INSULEUR ETP in Greece: Training actions, from Gozo 2008 to Heraklion 2009 Taking over the leading and starting role from Gozo Business Chamber last year in Malta, the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with INSULEUR brilliantly held the II Executive Training Programme (ETP) of our network last 25 th and 26 th in the Greek island of Crete, in the splendid Kastellaki Congress Hall, addressed to our experts at the INSULEUR Chambers, representatives of national and local governments and as well experts working for similar organisations interested on the insular development like CRPM (Conference of Maritime and Peripheral Regions) or ESIN (EU Small Islands Network). INSULEUR and Mallorca Chamber of Commerce President Mr. Joan Gual de Torrella , supported the initiative as part of the Council of Administration Strategic Plan 2009-2012, specifically regarding the fifth axe, that is “Training” . Mr. Gual de Torrella emphasized the meaningful objective of such events, that is, the deepening of knowledge on the insular enterprises and the insular regional economic environments. Picture (right): Mr. Evangelos Douloufakis (Heraklion Chamber Expert) First day, first session, lectures started with Dr. Alkinoos Nikolaidis, representative of MAICH on sustainable agriculture development and its coherence to regional economies with emphasis to tourism sector. Taking the floor, the President of Union of Crete Exporters Mr. Alkiviadis Kalabokis disserted on the extroversion of VSMEs , that is, the means and ways of enhancing export activities and the role of local stakeholders such as chambers and unions of exporters. Furthermore consultant in tourism sector Mr. George Kokkinis spoke on the evolution and implementation of a realistic marketing plan concerning tourism sector , basic principles and methods of achieving goals and targets. On the second session expert Advisor to the Secretary General of the Region of Crete Ms. Maria Tikmanidi talked about the economic environment and insular enterprises . Additionally the Director of Development Agency of STEP-C Mr. Artemis Saitakis explained the role of research institutions facilitating the effectiveness of the local chambers of commerce on technology transfer to spin-offs and SMEs. Second day, member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009 Mr. Stavros Arnaoutakis chatted on the EU programs and initiatives and the importance for insular SMEs . Environmental management and energy savings also had its part on the Programme, mainly with presentations of successful water-saving innovated procedures in Aldemar Hotels, by company representative Mr. E. Makogamvrakis . Last but not least, President of Minoan International College Mr. Nikos Skoulas gave a speech on diversified tourism development at insular regions . After general discussion, the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce and Industry and former Vice-President at EOAEN and INSULEUR Mr. Nikitas Dolapsakis concluded the II ETP 2009 thanking all the participants coming from around Europe and also invited the attendants to a succulent Gala dinner made out of typical Cretan gastronomy. Picture: Heraklion Chamber President Mr. Nikitas Dolapsakis Special Dossier: European Parliament Elections 1) Election results and constitution of EP committees Last 4-7th June, the European citizens of the 27 member countries elected a total amount of 736 MEPs to represent them during the next five years term. Turnout ballot reached 43%. In this sense, regarding election results , the Group of the European People’s Party (EPP) reached 265 seats (36%), the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D) attained 184 seats (25%), the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) got 84 seats (11.4%), the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (GREENS/EFA) obtained 55 seats 2 (7.5%), the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) won 54 seats (7.3%), the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) gained 35 seats (4.8%), the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group accomplished 32 seats (4.3%), and finally the MEPs Non-attached to other group (NA) acquired 27 seats (3.7%). Along the inaugural plenary session in Strasbourg last 14-16th July, MEPs elected Jerzy Buzek (EPP) to be the new European Parliament President with 86.18% (see picture right during inaugural speech following his election). Being the first President of the European Parliament to come from Central and Eastern Europe following the EU's enlargement in 2004, the Polish MEP will lead the chamber until January 2012. Furthermore, fourteen Vice-Presidents were elected, together with five Quaestors. Among them, Ms. Rodi Kratsa- Tsagaropoulou , born in the Greek island of Zakynthos was elected in the 1 st round as Vicepresident of the European Parliament . Before summer break, Brussels held the constitution of the Parliamentary committees and the election of chairs and vice-chairs during 20-23th July. Picture (left): Ms. Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou & Mr. Jerzy Buzek 2) 2009-2014 main challenges On 4-7th June 2009 elected European Parliament for the 7 th term will face several challenges along the next five years. Among them, one can include financial services, social policy, climate change, EU enlargement, agriculture and, if and when ratified by all Member States, the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. Regarding the Economic and Monetary Affairs the financial market crisis is now having an impact on the rest of the economy as the credit squeeze affects industrial investment. Improving Europe’s framework of financial regulation will be a major issue for the next European Parliament. Concerning the chapter of Climate Change and Energy, the EU will be simultaneously pursue talks on a worldwide post-Kyoto climate regime, to be agreed in Copenhagen by the end of 2009. As the EU works towards the 2020 deadline for its 20/20/20 targets (20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, 20% improvement in energy efficiency, and 20% renewables in the EU energy mix), it also faces the challenge of halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Parliament wants the EU and other industrialized countries to agree, as a group, to try to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25-40% by 2020, and at least 80% by 2050, compared to 1990. Parliament recommended that global warming and the resulting climate change issues be tackled in all spheres and policies , that is from energy and tourism to health, agriculture and intelligent computer systems. Regarding Agriculture the European Parliament will take part in preparations for the next major overhaul of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), scheduled for 2013. The outcome will depend partly on the expected budgetary battle between Member States on the post-2013